At around 2:30 PM on August 5, 2024, Chattogram was swept by an overwhelming wave of joy as news spread of the resignation and departure of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The atmosphere in the port city transformed from one of tension to jubilation as hundreds of thousands of students and citizens took to the streets, celebrating the end of authoritarian rule. National flags were brandished, and slogans of victory echoed through the air.
From the afternoon onwards, sweets were distributed at various intersections, and people embraced one another, shedding tears of joy. The celebrations were spontaneous and widespread, involving students from diverse educational institutions, employees, business owners, laborers, rickshaw drivers, and individuals from all walks of life. Major roads in the city were filled with people until night, as the community came together in a shared sense of triumph.
New Market intersection, a focal point for resistance during the July Movement, became a site of triumph. Thousands of individuals surged into New Market Square, embracing one another and expressing relief following the sacrifices of martyrs. At Kazir Deuri, people from various professions, including doctors, journalists, and engineers, celebrated the downfall of the dictator. Awami League leaders and activists fled, while police officers retreated due to safety concerns.
In Bahaddarhat and GEC, large processions gathered, with rickshaws, motorcycles, and trucks filled with people waving red and green flags. The city was alive with the distribution of sweets and chants celebrating the end of dictatorship. In Bora Pol, thousands congregated until 4 PM, celebrating the demolition of Mujib's statue and setting fire to various symbols of the Awami League.
Touhidul Islam, a student from Chattogram University, noted the instinctive joy of the people but emphasized the need for responsibility to maintain order. Mohammad Abdul Quader, a businessman from Agrabad, described the day as a mix of sorrow and triumph, rooted in the history of suffering. Sadman Karim, a student activist, highlighted the efforts of students to manage traffic and facilitate public movement following the events.
